One-piece thermometer case



Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a one piece sheet metal thermometer case,.and it consists in the novel features which are hereinafter described.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce an improved one piece sheet metal thermometer case by stamping and forming the same from a flat metal blank which is shown as having therein a longitudinal central opening. This construction is economical of labor and material and has superior strength.

Another object is to provide said case with open upper and lower ends and an ample area of cross-section and channels for the atmospheric air to circulate therethrough; also to provide the case with a longitudinally tapered body to retain therein a scale plate by frictional resistance to the dislocation of the latter. This construction obviates the need of a bottom plate for the case or some other scale holding devices.

A further object is to provide the case with a pair of forwardly extending sidewalls of ample size, to serve as lateral guards for the thermometer against injury due to careless handling and possible collision from lateral anad rearwardly inclined directions, and also as a protection against the effects of sunshine and also to make the case longitudinally rigid.

A still other object is to have the said sidewalls terminating at their front edges in a pair of inwardly extending horizontal strips or beads, to serve as a protection against laceration of the fingers of persons handling the case.

Another object is to have said sidewalls inclined inwardly to reduce the original width of said opening in the blank to afford more projection for the thermometer and to facilitate the reading of the thermometer by restricting the angle of vision.

A further object is to have the said side walls connected to each other at the upper and lower ends thereof by means of yokes formed from the said blank in one piece with said walls, thereby obviating cuts or slits on the front of the case,

above and below the scale opening,

Another object is to provide an antifriction means at said pivotal connection for facilitating the turning of said hanger on said rear wall for retracting the same.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

I attain these objects by the thermometer case which is hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings or by any mechanical equivalent or obvious modification of the same.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of my improved thermometer case;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation looking from right to left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view drawn to a smaller scale of the blank from which my improved thermometer case is formed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

H designates the metal blank which is shown as having thereon longitudinal sides |'2--|2A and I3I3A, joined to each other by end strips 14 and I5, and an opening 16 in the middle part thereof.

The blank H may be bent backwards and formed into the body of the thermometer case, the cross section of which is shown as having the angular outline of a hexagon, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The outer edge portions l2 and I3 of the sides l2l2A and I3-I3A of the blank II are shown at 22 and 23 as overlapping each other in the rear of the case, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings and are welded to each other at their edge portions.

The original opening l6 of the blank I! has its width reduced in the thermometer case 26 as is hereinafter described and is shown at 26 in Fig. 1 to facilitate the reading of the thermometer by reducing the angle of vision and to afford more protection to the thermometer which is contained in the case.

This reduction in width is accomplished by bending the end strips l4 and I5 into semicylindrical yokes which are shown at 24 and 25 3 in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The length of the yokes 24 and 25 is equal to the length or the strips I4 and I5 which is also the original width of the opening I6; the width of the opening 26 is equal to the chord of the are formed by the yokes 24 and 25.

The sides l2-l2A and l3l3A of the blank I! are bent on the lines I! and i8 and formed into angular channels 21 and 28, also into rearwardly extending and inwardly inclined walls 22A and 32A and into forwardly extending and inwardly inclined walls 32 and 33. The walls 22a, 32a, 32 and 33 with the rear of the case form partly enclosed channels for the air to ascend therethrough, thereby cooling the thermometer bulb.

The inner edge portions I9 and 20 of the sides l2l 2A and I3l 3A are formed into the strips or beads 29 and 30 which extend inwardly from the walls 32 and 33, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

These beads serve to prevent laceration of the fingers of persons handling the case.

A scale plate 3| is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as extending laterally from the apex of the channel 27 to that of the channel 28 interiorly of the case which is shown as longitudinally tapered in Fig. 1; but this taper is shown as exaggerated "for the sake of clearness.

The plate 3| is retained in position in the case by having its lower end jammed into the tapered lower end of the case; but the greater part of the length of the plate 3| is fitting loosely in the case, as'isshown in Fig. -1 by the clearance between the sides of the plate 3i and the interior of the channels 2'! and 28.

This clearance is also exaggerated in Fig. l for the sake of clearness.

Both the upper and lower ends of the case are shown as open and unobstructed to allow the free circulation of atmospheric air therethrough.

The area of cross-section of the case is also made ample for this purpose by providing the above described hexagonal shape for the crosssection of the case.

The plate 3| is shown in Fig. 1 as having a l scale of temperatures indicated thereon.

A thermometer tube 34 and bulb 35 are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as placed on said plate in front of the latter anad somewhat to one side of the case. The tube 34 is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings as secured to the plate 3| by means of straps 49 and screws.

The bulb 35 in part extends through an opening 4| in the plate 3|.

Thehood 25 serves as-a guard for the bulb 35; the walls 32 and 33 are relatively high and serve as a lateral protection for the tube 34 against possible injury due to collision from lateral and rearwardly inclined directions, and also as a protection against the effects of sunshine.

The walls 32 and 33 are shown as curved in cross-section, whereby to be more rig d, and with the channels "21 and 28 and the walls 22A and -32A they serve to stiffen the case longitudinally.

Additional longitudinal corrugations may be added to thesides 32 and-33 to increase the rigidity of the case, if desired.

To suspend the thermometer case from a suitable nail head or hook a retractible hanger 36 is provided at the upper end of the case and is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as having thereon at the outer end thereof a suitable opening 3'! for the said suspension.

To facilitate packing of the case, the hanger 53B is shown as pivotally connected to the rear wall 23 of the case by means of an elevation or boss 38 on the front side of the hanger and a suitable pin 39 forming a relatively frictionless joint.

The boss 38 facilitates. the turning of the hanger 36 on the rear side 23 of the case when it is desired to retract the hanger 35.

Variations are possible and parts of my invention may be used without other parts.

I do not, therefore, restrict myself to the details as shown in the drawings.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A one piece sheet metal thermometer case for supporting a thermometer which terminates in a bulb, the said case having on the front thereof an opening for reading a scale therethrough and an uncut surface above and below said opening, the said case being formed from an elongated metal blank, said blank having therein a longitudinal opening, longitudinal sides and end strips connecting the ends of said sides at the ends of said opening, the thermometer case being formed by bending the sides of the blank backwards to form the sides and rear of the case and joining the exterior lateral edge portions of the blank to each other, the said sides with said rear forming a partly enclosed channel for the air to ascend therethrough, thereby cooling the thermometer bulb, and the said sides also serving to protect the thermometer from the-sunshine and from mechanical injury and said opening with said end strips being positioned on the front of the'case.

2. A one piece sheet metal thermometer case for supporting a thermometer which terminates in a bulb, the said case having on the front there- 'of an opening for reading a scale therethrough and an uncut surface above and below said opening, the said case being formed from an elongated metal blank, said blank having therein a longitudinal opening, longitudinal sides and end strips connecting the ends of said s des at the ends of said opening, the 'width of the opening in the case being smaller than the width of the corresponding opening in the blank and the length of said end strips, the thermometer case "being formed by bending the sides of the blank backwards to form the sides and rear of the case and bend ng each of said end strips into a substantially semicylindrical hood at each end of the case, thereby reducing the width of the opening from that of the blank to that of the case, and joining the exterior edges of the blank to each other, the sides and rear of the case forming a partly enclosed channel from end 'to end of the case, for the air to ascend therethrou'gh, one of said hoods serving as a shield for the thermometer bulb, and the relatively narrow opening in the case facilitating the reading of the thermometer by restricting the angle of vision and thereby reducing the effect of sunshine thereon.

3. A one piece sheet metal thermometer case for supporting a thermometer which terminates in a bulb formed from a metal blank by bending the sides of the blank to form the sides and rear of the case, the said sides with said rear forming a partly enclosed channel for the air to ascend therethrough thereby cooling the thermometer bulb, a scale plate enclosed by said base, said caserbeing open at the lower end thereof, a part of said case near the lower end of said plate being tapered longitudinally and said plate being held iagainst longitudinal displace- 5 ment in said case by having the lower end there- Number of jammed into the tapered end of said case. 1340 273 JOSEPH KAHL. 1592551 REFERENCES CITED 5 1:383:32? The following references are of record in the 19,6 file of this patent: 2,201,186 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2209179 2,235,976 Number Name Date 10 2,328,528

494,651 Scollay Apr. 4, 1893 Name Date Jones May 18, 1920 Harris Nov. 20, 1928 Day Mar. 7, 1933 Eshbaugh May 16, 1933 Greiner, Jr July 25, 1933 Lane May 21, 1940 Tate July 23, 1940 Best Mar. 25, 1941 McConnell Aug. 31, 1943 

